Soft-sided container for fluids

ABSTRACT

A soft-sided container for containing a fluid, which includes a first end, a second end and at least one elongated side wall extending between the first end and the second end. The container further includes a primary outlet for being selectively opened by a user to permit the fluid to be dispensed from the container and a secondary outlet that is selectively opened by a user to permit the fluid to be dispensed from the container.

This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/700,341 filed Sep. 13, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Soft-sided containers for containing fluids are generally known. One example of such a container includes toothpaste tubes. Such containers, however, suffer from certain shortcomings. For example, such containers generally include a single inlet/outlet. When the contained fluid is relatively viscous, the single inlet/outlet structure necessarily results in wasted fluid left at the bottom on the container. For example, consumers are regularly frustrated when it is no longer possible to push the last remaining amount of toothpaste from the bottom of a toothpaste tube to the sole outlet at the other end of the tube. Similar frustrations occur with respect to other types of fluids contained in various soft-sided containers, including for example creams, ointments and other cosmetic products.

A second shortcoming of various soft-sided fluid containers is that they do not include a mechanism for preventing tampering prior to purchase. Accordingly, it is possible that the fluids contained in soft-sided containers could be tampered with after leaving the manufacturing facility but before purchase. For example, known toothpaste tubes lack a security mechanism to ensure that the contents of the tube have not been altered since their manufacture. Similar soft-sided containers, including containers for creams, ointments and other cosmetic products suffer from similar deficiencies

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved soft-sided container for containing fluids that addresses these shortcomings of the existing art.

SUMMARY

A soft-sided container for containing a fluid, which includes a first end, a second end and at least one elongated side wall extending between the first end and the second end. The container further includes a primary outlet for being selectively opened by a user to permit the fluid to be dispensed from the container and a secondary outlet that is selectively opened by a user to permit the fluid to be dispensed from the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a soft-sided container having a primary and a secondary outlet, wherein the secondary outlet is in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the secondary outlet is in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a soft-sided container having a primary and a secondary outlet, wherein the secondary outlet is in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the secondary outlet is in the open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a soft-sided container having a security feature associated with the screw cap of the container.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a soft-sided container having a security feature associated with a second embodiment of a screw cap of the container.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 having a second embodiment of the screw cap and security feature.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a soft-sided container having a primary and a secondary outlet, wherein the secondary outlet is a zipper in the closed position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a soft-sided container having a primary and a secondary outlet, wherein the secondary outlet is a perforated orifice having tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure herein provides embodiments of soft-sided containers that permit a user to extract more fluid from the container, particularly when the fluid is viscous, than in known embodiments. The disclosed embodiments can be used to contain toothpaste, creams, ointments and other cosmetics. The disclosed embodiments may also include a security mechanism to prevent the container from being opened and re-closed (without detection) between the time that the container is manufactured and the time that it is purchased by a consumer.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of an improved soft-sided container for containing fluids—particularly viscous fluids—including a secondary outlet opening shown in its closed position in FIG. 1 and in its open position in FIG. 2. Soft-sided container 10 is generally elongated and includes a bottom end 16 and a top end 18 and one or more walls 12. The container 10 includes a primary outlet opening 15 that is selectively covered by a conventional screw cap 14. The soft-sided container 10 further includes a secondary outlet 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondary outlet 20 is a perforated slit 20 which may be disposed longitudinally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The perforated slit 20 is shown in FIG. 1 in its primary state of being closed, which permits the soft-sided container 10 to be used in a conventional manner. Specifically, a consumer pushes the fluid out from the primary outlet 15 by pushing on the soft walls 12 of the container 10, applying pressure to the fluid. FIG. 2 illustrates the container 10 with the perforated slit 20 being opened. The perforated slit 20 is opened by a user “tearing” the perforation in a conventional manner, i.e., by applying shear stress to the perforated slit 20. When the perforated slit 20 is torn open, a secondary outlet is provided at the bottom end of the container 10, which permits easier access to the fluid contents of the container 10 and allows the last remaining portions of the fluid to be extracted from the container 10.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of an improved soft-sided container for containing fluids—particularly viscous fluids—including a secondary outlet opening shown in its closed position in FIG. 3 and in its open position in FIG. 4. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the soft-sided container 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is generally elongated and includes a bottom end 36 and a top end 38 and one or more walls 32. The container 30 includes a primary outlet opening 35 that is selectively covered by a conventional screw cap 34. The soft-sided container 30 further includes a secondary outlet 37. The secondary outlet 37 results from tearing (i.e., applying shear stress) to a perforation 41. FIG. 3 illustrates the perforation in its original state and the secondary outlet 37 closed, and FIG. 4 illustrates the perforation 41 partially torn open to create the secondary outlet 37. When the perforation 41 is torn open, secondary outlet 37 is provided at the bottom end of the container 30, which permits easier access to the fluid contents of the container 30 and allows the last remaining portions of the fluid to be extracted from the container 30.

FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment of an improved soft-sided container for containing fluids—particularly viscous fluids—including a secondary outlet opening. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the soft-sided container 80 shown in FIG. 8 is generally elongated and includes a bottom end 86 and a top end 88 and one or more walls 82. The container 80 includes a primary outlet opening 85 that is selectively covered by a conventional screw cap 84. The soft-sided container 80 further includes a zipper 89 that can be selectively opened and closed to allow greater access to the internal portion of the container 80. The zipper 89 includes a tab 83, which can be held by a user to selectively open and close the zipper 89.

FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth embodiment of an improved soft-sided container for containing fluids—particularly viscous fluids—including a secondary outlet opening. Similar to previous embodiments, the soft-sided container 80 shown in FIG. 9 is generally elongated and includes a bottom end 86 and at least one side wall 82. The container 80 includes a primary outlet opening 85 that is selectively covered by a conventional screw cap 84. The soft-sided container 80 further includes a perforated orfice 87 that is selectively opened by a user pulling a tab 81, which breaks the perforation, removes covering material 91, and opens the orifice 87.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a soft-sided container 50 that includes a security feature. The soft-sided container 50 includes a bottom end 56, a top end 58 and at least one side wall 52. The container 50 further includes an outlet 53 and a screw cap 54 that selectively covers the outlet 53. The screw cap 54 includes an integral tearable ring or band 64 that surrounds the periphery of the cap 54 and prevents the cap 54 from turning while attached. The tearable band 64 includes a tab 62. A user may grasp the tab 62 to pull the tearable band away from the cap 54. Once the tearable ring or band 64 is removed from the cap 54, the cap may be freely unscrewed.

FIG. 6 illustrates the same embodiment as FIG. 5, except that the configuration of the cap 55 (FIG. 6) is different than cap 54 (FIG. 5). The cap 55 is shorter and has a larger diameter than the cap 54 in FIG. 5.

The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many alternative approaches or applications other than the examples provided would be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future examples. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.

The present embodiments have been particularly shown and described, which are merely illustrative of the best modes. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments described herein may be employed in practicing the claims without departing from the spirit and scope as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.

All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. 

1. A soft-sided container for containing a fluid, comprising: A first end, a second end and at least one elongated side wall extending between the first end and the second end; a primary outlet for being selectively opened by a user to permit the fluid to be dispensed from the container; and a secondary outlet that is selectively opened by a user to permit the fluid to be dispensed from the container. 